Hydraulic sewage disintegrator



Aug, 24, 1937. s B, PAIGE 2,090,637

HYDRAULI C SEWAGE DIS INTEGRATOR Filed June 30, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 24, 1937. s, a PAIGE 2,090,637

HYDRAULI C SEWAGE DI S INTEGRATOR Filed June 30, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 !r v 27 0 $3, 1/ v Patented Aug. 24, 1937 access? HYDRAULIC SEWAGE DISINTEGRATOR Samuel B. Paige, Baker, Oreg, assigner of onefifth to Lawrence R. Martin, one-filth to Walter L. Scott, and one-fifth to Forrest L. Hubbard, all oi Baker, Oreg.

Application June 30, 1936, Serial No. 88,246

13 Claims. (Cl. 210-152) This invention relates to sewage treatment and Figure 'l' is a section on the line '!l particularly to means for disintegrating sewage ure 1. prior to its passage through a screen to the plant Referring to these drawings, A designates in which is to be treated. sewage canal sluiceway or the like, and B screen a The general object of this invention is to probars extending downward at an inclination to the vide means whereby the solids and semi-solids in surface a of the sewage stream. Supported in the sewage may be broken up b f re passing any suitable manner in association with the through the sewage screen to a sewage handling sewage canal A is a bracket Ill, which is shown plant. as mounted upon a support ll. This bracket A more specific object is to provide means for it is riveted or bolted to a downwardly extending causing the stirring up of the solids at the bottom supporting r 12 w h extends w r m of a sewage stream just before it passes through a horizontal supp 53 having p y the screen and for causing the breaking down or extending end portions uprights Se updisintegration of these solids so stirred up and rights adjacent th pp vare ca y the driving of the disintegrated solids between t d, as at a p p be'la'fier the bars of the screen. scribed, and these uprights support a horizontally Generally speaking, this is accomplished by disp d'p m plate it having w wa d y discharging a jet of Water downward against the eXteP-ding legs lower submerged end of the screen to thus stir up w r e ds of these legs 5? d through e 175 and agitate the solids at the bottom of the stream as S'IIOWH in Figure d these l s arry and prevent their becoming compacted and disthe angle i ons Angle iTOIlS 29 M boltedcharging a second jet of water downward against t0 e uprights M and adjusting Screws 2! P s the screen at the surface of the sewage stream, gh these fi d n l i n 23 n the an this last named jet acting to break up the solids irons '9 170 thus permit the platform t0 be and semi-solids and drive them through the i d Vertically screen, Mounted upon the frame thus formed and-bee A further object is to provide means whereby w n the uprights M i a motor designated nthese two streams of water may be caused to play erally which y be an electric the across the stream or, in other words, oscillate Shaft f which Carries tWO p y 23 and transversely of the length of the stream, and a om t p y 23 extends a belt 25 v a still further object is to provide means whereby pulley 6 n d p a shaft as, wn in the water discharged against the stream is Figure Supported in bearings the depending economized by operating the nozzles which cause bar ThiS Shaft Carries llpOnit a Worm the discharge of the jets alternately so that the as wn in Figure 3, whi h n s" a w rm water consumption is only half as great as if the Wheel disposd Within a housing Mounted nozzles were operating t 11ti above this worm wheelis a swinging nozzle as oth bje ts 111 appear i th course of th will be later described, and the worm'wheel'is following description. connected by a crank'pin 3| to alink 32, which My invention is illustrated in the accompanyin turn is connected 130 the IlOZZlG. AS the worm ing drawings wherein: wheel 29 rotates, the connected nozzle will be Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved oscillateflmechanism, the sewage canal being shown in ele- Mounted up n the plate or platform I6 s a, vation, the depth of the sewage stream being wormwhfiel engaged f the shaft shown in dotted lines; of which is mounted in suitable bearings upon the of Figplate l6 and this shaft carries the pulley or band gfigf g top plan View of my Improved wheel 35. A belt 36 engages this wheel 35 and also engages the pulley 24 previously referred Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figto as being on the motor Shaft 11109.1; fl Qperatively supported upon the plate It is a Flgure 4 1s a rear of the mechamsm transversely extending headerlor pipe Slywhich shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figis shown in Figure l, and at one end is connected by Us 38 to a pipe 39, Which in turn is connected ure I by an L 40 to a transversely extending pipe 4! u e 6 1S a s on 0n the .6 66 of Fig-- which in turn is connected toa vertically eXtend-' li ing hose section 42. This at its lower end is H; Bolts 58 pass through the.

operatively connected by pipe sections to a noz- 'zle 43 which is directed downward and toward 10 wardly extending nozzle 41 which is directed at the intersection of the sewage line A with the screen B. Valves '48 and 49 are disposed on each side of a supply pipe 50 which extends from any suitable source of supply to the header 31. The valve casings 48.and 49 may have valves therein of any suitable character but I have illustrated in Figure 5 one of these valves, as the valve within the casing 49, as being a depressible valve, the valve proper being designated;5l, depressible against the action of a spring 52 and normally held closed by this spring. The valve casing 48 contains a like 7 valve. Both of these valves are provided with upwardly extending stems 53. i

For the purpose of alternately depressing the stems of these two valves or alternately opening and closing these valves, I mount upon the plate l6 the worm wheel 33, as before described, and formthe upper face of this worm wheel with an upwardly extending cam 54 which extends throughian arc of 180; Pivotally mounted upon transversely extending sleeves 55 are the valve actuating appease and 51, these tappets being alike but one actuating the stem of the V valve casing 49 and the other the stem of the valve casing '48; When the cam 54 strikes one of these tappets'the rear end of the tappet is raised and the forward end of the tappet is lowered, opening the corresponding valve while the valve of the other valve casing remains closed. 'Eachof these tappets 56 and 51 is provided, as shown 'in Figure 5, with a screw 7' threaded stem 58 upon which is mounted the 'roller 59 which operates'upon the cam track 54.

The stem is adjustable through the tappet, as

shown in Figure 5,.and is held in adjusted position by means of the nut 66. i

For the purpose of swinging the nozzles 43 and 41 together transversely across the sewage 1 stream and transversely of the screen B, I pivot upon an ear 6| projecting from thesupporting frame of the machine an arm 62, which carries at its outer end an upwardly extendinglug 62 through which the pipe sections which connect the nozzles 43 and 41 to the flexiblehose 42 and 46 pass, as shown in Figure 1'. Thisarm 62 is connected by the link 32 previously described, to the crank pin 3| of theworm wheel 29. Thus 7 as this, worm wheel rotates, the arm 62 will be' swung transversely of the stream of" sewage and willncarry the nozzles 43 and 41 with it. Thus Y the streams or jets directed from the nozzles willsweep across the stream of sewage. The nozzle 43 will discharge a powerful stream or jet of water downward into the sewage stream and; against the bottom of the canal A adjacent the lower end ofthe screen B while the nozzle 41 will direct a powerful stream of water against the sewage "strea'lmat itssurface and at a point adjacent the intersection of thesurface a of the stream with the screen B, as shown in Figure 1.

1 The supply pipe 50 willbe connected to a source of water'un der pressure, as for instance, to a pump so that 'a powerful jet of Water will be'di- 7 rected from each of the" nozzles 43 and 41.

heretofore described and as illustrated in Figure 5, so that as the belt 36. slackens through use or for any other reason, the platform or plate l6 may be raised to thus tighten the belt. A like construction is used for supporting the shaft 21 so that this shaft may be adjusted vertically to tighten the belt passing around the plate 26. To this end, as shown in Figure '7, the downwardly extendingbar or plate l2 is slotted at 63. A bracket .64 having bearings for the shaft/21 and carrying the housing 30 is sup,- ported against this plate or bar I2 by means of a bolt 65 passing through the slot 63 and through an angle iron 66, which is the equivalent of the angle. iron l9. An angle iron 61 is riveted, bolted or otherwise attached to the web or bar l2 and an'adjusting screw 66 is swivelled in this angle iron; just as the adjusting screws 2| are swivelled in the angle irons 20, and has screwthreaded engagement with the angle irons 66. Thus both belts may betightened from time to time as found necessary. The supply pipe 56 is connected not only to a source of water under pressure but to a source of water having a certainalkaline content whereby the acid in the raw sewage is diluted.

In the operation ofthis structure, assuming that the motor 22 is. running, then it will be obvious that the cam 54 will alternately open the valves in the valve casings. and 49 and that while the nozzles are moving, in one direction transversely of the stream of sewage, one of these valves will be opened and a stream will be'directed out through the corresponding nozzle and upon a reverse movement of the nozzles across the stream of sewage, the first-named valve will be closed and the second-named. valve opened.

Satisfactory results could be obtained if both nozzles wereoperated at the same time, but

equally satisfactory results are obtained by operating the nozzles alternately, and under these circumstances, the water consumption is only half as great. The water jet discharged from the nozzle 41 performs the greater portion of the actual breaking downof the solids, and drives the broken down solids between the bars of the screen B. The jet 43 operates at the bottom of the sewage flow and acts to stir up the solids and cause them .to come to, the surface so that the upper jet may actupon them. Thesetwo jets,

therefore, prevent the accumulation of solids at the bottom of the sewage stream and cause the breaking up of these solids and their passage through the screen to the plant where they areto; be treated. Without the use of this mechanisrn, so much of thematerials found in raw" sewage is taken out of the screen, that there is not a suflicient amount of material flowing into the digester, so that the digester may work with its best efliciencyr Ordinarily, it is necessary,

therefore, that an operator with a rake be sta-' tioned by the screen to continually stir up and agitate the sewage and rake the screen clear.

This is entirely obviated by my mechanism..

By the use of this mechanism, everything can be broken up into pieces before it' passes into the digester and only such articles as cannot be broken up, such as pieces of cloth, wood, iron,

sewage disposal plant by the use of my mechanism are as follows:

First, increase of gas production 100%.

Second, elimination of 95%.of the material that could not otherwise be handled in the plant.

Third, it eliminates the necessity of an operator to watch and tend the screen.

Fourth, it disintegrates the sewage so that when it comes into the digester, it will be digested in half the time required where this mechanism is not in use.

Fifth, any alkali in the additional water added to the sewage through this mechanism dilutes the acid in the raw sewage'to such an extent that it promotes the process of digestion and makes it quicker, more thorough and more eiiicient and makes this di estion much more complete.

While I have illustrated certain details of construction and certain definite arrangement of parts which I have found to be particularly effective, I do not wish to be limited to these details as it is obvious that many changes might be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. The combination with a sludge screen, of means for disentegrating the solids in a sewage stream just prior to its passage through the screen, including means for discharging a jet of water at high pressure downward into said stream, and means for causing said jet to reciprocate transversely of the stream.

2. The combination with a sludge screen, of means for disintegrating the solids in a sewage stream just prior to its passage through the screen, including means for discharging two jets of water under high pressure downward into said stream, one of said jets being directed to the intersection of the surface of the stream with the screen, the other of said jets being directed so as to strike the bottom of the stream approximately at its intersection with the screen, and means for reciprocating said jets across the stream..

3. The combination with a sewage canal having a downwardly inclined screen, of means for directing two jets of water under high pressure downward into said stream, one of said jets being so directed as to strike the surface of the stream approximately at the intersection of the surface of the stream with the screen, the other of said jets being directed toward the intersection of the lower end of the screen with the bottom of the stream, and means for reciprocating said jets transversely across the stream.

4. The combination with a sludge screen, of means for disintegrating the solids in a sewage stream just prior to its passage through the screen, including a supporting frame, a motor thereon, a pair of downwardly directed nozzles having angular relation to each other in a vertical plane, means driven by the motor for oscillating said nozzles in a horizontal plane, and means for operatively connecting said nozzles to a source of water under high pressure.

5. The combination with a sludge screen, of means for disintegrating the solids in a. sewage stream just prior to its passage through the screen, including a supporting frame, means for sup-porting said frame above the surface of the sewage stream, a pair of downwardly directed nozzles operatively supported by said frame, the nozzles having angular relation to each other in a horizontal plane whereby the jets discharged from said nozzles will strike the stream at different angles, a supply pipe operatively connected toeach of said nozzles and adapted to beconnected to a source of Water under pressure, a motor carried by the supporting frame, and means driven, by said motor for oscillating said nozzles transversely of the stream.

' 6. The combination with a sludge screen, of means: for disintegrating the solids in a sewage stream just prior to its passage throughthe screen, including a supporting frame, means for supporting said frame above the surface of the sewage stream, a pair of downwardly directed nozzles operatively sup-ported by said frame, the nozzles having angular relation to each other in a horizontal plane whereby the jets: discharged from said nozzles will strike the stream at different angles, a supply pipe operatively connected to each of said nozzles and adapted to be connected to a source of water under pressure, a motor carried by the supporting frame, means riven by said motor for oscillating said nozzles transversely of the stream, said means including a worm operatively connected toand driven by the motor, a worm. wheel engaged with the worm, a link pivoted to the worm. wheel, andan arm pivoted at one end to the frame and at its free end operatively connected to said nozzles, the link being pivotally connected to said arm.

'7. The combination with a sludge screen, of means for disintegrating the solids in a sewage stream; just prior to its passage through the screen, including a frame adapted to be: supported above the surface of the stream, a. pair of downwardly directed nozzles operatively supported by said frame for oscillation in a horizontal plane, said nozzles having'angular rela tion to each other in a vertical plane, a header having means for connecting it to a source of water under pressure, one end 'of said header being operatively connected to one nozzle and the other end of the header being operatively connected to the other nozzle, valves in said header on each side of the supply pipe, a motor supported by the frame, means operatively connected to the motor for oscillating the nozzles in a horizontal plane, and means for alternately op erating said valves, including a cam, means connected to the motor for rotating said cam and tappets alternately engaged by the cam, one of said tappets being connected to each of the valves.

8. A mechanism of the character described, including a supporting frame, a motor supported by the frame, a header carried by the frame, a supply pipe connected to the header and adapted to connect the header with a source of water under high pressure, pipes extending from. opposite ends of the header, vertical flexible hose sections connected to said last-named pipes, a pair of nozzles connected to the lower ends of the hose sections and. directed downward, said nozzleshaving angular relation to each other in a vertical plane, valves disposed one on each side of the supply pipe, means operated by the motor for alternately opening one or the other of said valves, and means ope-rated by the motor for oscillating said nozzles in a horizontal plane.

9. A mechanismof the character described, including a supporting frame, a header carried by the upper end of said frame, a supply pipeconnected to the header and adapted to be connected to a source of water under high pressure, pipe connections leading from. the opposite ends of the header, hose pipes disposed in parallel relation to each other and connected to said last-named pipe connections, downwardly extending nozzles operatively connected to the lower ends of the flexible hose pipessaid nozzles being disposed'at anacute angle with relation to each .other, valves disposed in said header on. each side. of the supply pipe, each valve being vertically depressible to permit the discharge of water through the Corresponding end of the header, amotor carried by the supporting frame, a worm driven by the motor, a worm wheel engaged with the worm. and hav-' ing a cam track upon onesurface, tappets one for each of said valves and adapted to be engaged by said. cam toalternately openone or the other of said valves, and means driven by said motor for oscillating the, nozzles and operatively connected thereto, said means acting when one valve is. opento shift the nozzles in 7 one direction across the stream and acting when r the other valve is opened to shift the nozzlesln an'opposite direction across the stream. V

10.. A mechanism of the character described, including a supporting frame, a header'carried by the upper end of said frame, a supply pipe connected to the header and adapted to be connected to a source of water under high pressure, pipe connections leading from the opposite ends ing vertically depressible to permit the discharge of Water through the corresponding end of the header, a I'IlOIJOY'CaIIiGd by the supporting frame,

a Worm driven by the moton'a' wormwheel engaged with the worm and having a cam track upon one surface, tappetsone: for each of'said valves and adapted to be engaged by said cam to alternately open one or the other of said valves, .means driven by said motor for oscillating the nozzles and operatively connected thereto, said means acting when one valve is open to shift the nozzles in one direction across the stream and acting when the other valve is opened to shift 'the nozzles in an opposite direction across the stream, and including a worm operatively connected to and driven by the motor, a worm wheel,

pivoted arms supporting the nozzles, and a link between the worm wheel and said arms. a

11. In a mechanism of the character described, including a, supporting frame, a motor carried thereby, the shaft of the motor havingpulleys at eachend, a plate supported uponf'said frame at its upper end for vertical adjustment, a header carried by said plate, a supply pipe connected to the header at its middle and adapted to be connected to a source of water under pressure,

valves in said header oneach side of the supply pipe, vertically disposed parallel flexible pipes operatively connected to opposite ends of the header, downwardly-directed nozzles carried at the lower ends of said flexible pipes and disposed in angular relation to each other in a vertical plane, a valve actuating cam mounted upon said plate, tappets alternately engaged by said cam and connected to the'respective valves to open them upon the engagement of the corre-' g spending tappet by said cam, means for rotating 1 said cam including a' pulley, an operativeconnection between one of said pulleys on the motor and said last-named pulley, means carried by said frame for oscillating the nozzles including a shaft carrying a pulley and a worm, a support for said shaft vertically adjustable upon the engaged by said worm, an arm pivotally mounted upon the support and engaged with both of said nozzles, and a link connecting the worm wheel with said arm to oscillate it in a horizontal plane.

12. The method of disintegrating the solids in a sewage stream just prior'to its passage through a screen which includes discharging a jet of water under high pressure against the surfaceof the frame, a worm wheel carried by said support and stream at the point of intersection ofsaidsur- 7 face with the screen, and discharging a second of water at high pressure downward into and through the sewage stream and against the bottom of the stream adjacent thelower end of the screen.

7 13. The method of disintegrating the solids in a sewage stream just prior to itspassage through a screen which includes discharging a jet of water under high pressure and having an alkaline content against the surfaceof the stream at the point of intersection of said surface with the screen and discharging a second jet of water under pressure and having analkaline content downward into and through the sewage stream and against the bottom of the stream adjacent the lower end of the screen.

SAMUEL B. PAIGE, 

